Criminal Justice

For too long drug enforcement laws have been used to criminalize people of color--especially youth--and enable abusive and dehumanizing policing practices. Over 80% of the New Yorkers arrested for marijuana in 2016 were people of color, despite similar rates of use among white people. Legalizing marijuana is a key step toward fixing our broken justice system and addressing racial inequities in our community.

Metro Justice has signed on to the Start SMART campaign because it’s time to end our failed drug war and repair the damage done to our communities. Decriminalization isn’t enough. We need to:

End criminalization and redress past harms

Address marijuana’s impact on immigration, family law, and discrimination in housing and employment

Direct revenue from marijuana sales to communities most harmed by prohibition

Show your support for the full legalization of marijuana in New York by donating $42 to Metro Justice.

Are you in this fight for the long haul? Consider becoming a sustaining member of Metro Justice for $4.20 a month.

To get involved in the fight to end marijuana prohibition, contact Mohini Sharma at mohini@metrojustice.org and/or sign up below.